Just in time for Helicopter Association of Canada’s annual convention and trade show, our April-May issue delivers a comprehensive report on the state of the helicopter industry in Canada (p.56). Ken Swartz spoke with dozens of operators across Canada to take the pulse of the industry — which has been weak for the past two years, but which may finally be starting to pick up.

In other Canadian stories, Gary Watson visits with Chinook Aviation in Calgary, Atla. (p.50) and Ken Pole sums up the Transportation Safety Board report into the crash of Cougar Flight 91/491 (p.46). And you’ll find plenty of Canadian news in our RotorBeat section (p.18), which also includes the key announcements from Heli-Expo. (For more news from Heli-Expo, see our first-ever Vertical Show News, online at www.verticalmag.com/digital.)

South of the border, Frank Carroll reports from South Dakota on how helicopters are being used in the fight against bark beetles in “Black Hills Battle” (p.71). Jen Boyer goes in-depth to explain recent changes to U.S. heliport regulations in “Landing Problems” (p.78). And in “Remaking a Classic,” Skip Robinson tells the fascinating story of the S-55QT Whisper Jet, which proves that old helicopters never die, they just get remade (p.52).

In a new Torque Talk series, test pilot Shawn Coyle gives you hands-on advice for understanding your autopilot (p.88). Bob Petite pays tribute to the late Charles Kaman in Vertical Rewind (p.108). And finally, Dorcey Wingo describes the path from Plan A to “Plan B” in a There I Was from the Grand Canyon (p.112).